BACKGROUND: Actinic keratosis (AK) and cheilitis (AC) are lesions that develop on photodamaged skin and may progress to form invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). OBJECTIVE: To provide guidance to Canadian health care practitioners regarding management of AKs and ACs. METHODS: Literature searches and development of graded recommendations were carried out as discussed in the accompanying introduction (chapter 1 of the NMSC guidelines). RESULTS: Treatment of AKs allows for secondary prevention of skin cancer in sun-damaged skin...

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal candidiasis is a common disorder in head and neck cancer patients (HNCPs) who underwent (chemo)-radiotherapy. An Italian survey was conducted in order to investigate radiation oncologists' behavior in regard to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of oral candidiasis. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Between April and May 2013, a national online 18-question survey was sent to major Italian radiotherapy centers. RESULTS: All Italian regions were represented and 86 radiation oncologists were involved...

BACKGROUND: Low humidity, high-velocity wind, excessive ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and extreme cold temperature are the main causes of various types of environmental dermatoses in high altitudes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in patients visiting the lone dermatology department in Ladakh between July 2009 and June 2010. The aim was to identify the common environmental dermatoses in high altitudes so that they can be treated easily or prevented...

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is commonly based on clinical criteria, and confirmed by genetic testing. In patients without known MEN1-related germline mutations, the possibility of a casual association between two or more endocrine tumors cannot be excluded and subsequent management may be difficult to plan. We describe a very uncommon case of functioning glucagonoma associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) in which genetic testing failed to detect germline mutations of MEN-1 and other known genes responsible for MEN1...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common pruritic, eczematous skin disorder that runs a chronic and relapsing course. Major and minor criteria exist as guideline for arriving at a diagnosis of AD. Minor features vary with ethnicity and genetic background and can be used to aid diagnosis. A descriptive study was conducted including 210 patients of 1-12 years age who had concurrent or past history of AD according to criteria of Hanifin and Rajka. This study was conducted in the department of Dermatology of three different Hospitals of Bangladesh...

INTRODUCTION: The WHO clinical guidelines for HIV/AIDS are widely used in resource limited settings to represent the gold standard of CD4 counts for antiviral therapy initiation. The utility of the WHO-defined stage 1 and 2 clinical factors used in WHO HIV/AIDS clinical staging in predicting low CD4 cell count has not been established in Uganda. Although the WHO staging has shown low sensitivity for predicting CD4<200 cells/mm(3), it has not been evaluated at for CD4 cut-offs of <250 cells/mm(3) or <350 cells/mm(3)...

Acitretin alone is efficient (PASI 90: 40%). In responders, it is the best long-term maintenance treatment (up to 29 years of continuous treatment). The main side effect is its teratogenicity in females. It is necessary to begin retinoid treatment at low doses (10 mg/day), increasing the dose step by step, looking for the maximum well-tolerated dose (usually defined as a mild cheilitis). Doses higher than the highest well-tolerated dose are frequently responsible for the Kobner phenomenon. In children, retinoids are very efficient and nearly always well tolerated, but it seems important to never give more than 0...

BACKGROUND: The incidence of oral lesions related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have been investigated after treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) including protease inhibitors (PI) but no data are available on the effect of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based therapy on incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) oral manifestations or impact of HAART on oral manifestations of HIV infection in Brazil. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of anti-HIV therapy on the incidence of oral lesions during 17 years of AIDS epidemics in a Brazilian population...

In a recently held WHO workshop it has been recommended to abandon the distinction between potentially malignant lesions and potentially malignant conditions and to use the term potentially malignant disorders instead. Of these disorders, leukoplakia and erythroplakia are the most common ones. These diagnoses are still defined by exclusion of other known white or red lesions. In spite of tremendous progress in the field of molecular biology there is yet no single marker that reliably enables to predict malignant transformation in an individual patient...

BACKGROUND: During the past 15 years, polymethylmethacrylate has been used as a synthetic permanent filler for soft-tissue augmentation. METHODS: This article reports 32 cases of complications seen at Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, for procedures performed elsewhere. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 43.6 years (range, 22 to 70 years). Twenty-five patients were women. Sixteen injection procedures were performed by certified plastic surgeons, nine by dermatologists, two by urologists, and one by a nonphysician...

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is one of the most dangerous psychiatric diseases; it bears a poor prognosis, marked addictive potential and a high risk of suicide. The earlier the eating disorder is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis of AN. A number of dermatological conditions may be associated with AN, although none are specific for AN. These findings include xerosis cutis, effluvium, gingivitis, cheilitis, acne and nail lesions. The cutaneous findings often observed in AN may be localized to the hands ("anorectic hand"), which should therefore always be examined if AN is suspected...

Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by a triad of recurrent orofacial swelling, recurrent paralysis of the facial nerve and lingua plicata. The complete triad only occurs in 25% of MRS cases. Monosymptomatic or oligosymptomatic variants are more frequent; other findings include granulomas in other facial sites, regional lymphadenopathy, fever, psychotic disorders and hyperplastic gingivitis are associated with MRS. This can be a diagnostic challenge. The etiology and pathogenesis of MRS are unknown...

Isotretinoin is a very effective medication for the treatment of severe recalcitrant acne. However, its use is associated with many side effects, some of which can be very serious. The most important issue is its teratogenicity, which has resulted in new pregnancy prevention policies and programmes implemented by the manufacturer. Recently, the association of isotretinoin with depression has been recognised and new guidelines have been adopted for this possible side effect. The most common adverse events, observed during treatment, are mucocutaneous and ophthalmological...

BACKGROUND: Oral prevalence studies are important to know the state of health and the needs of treatment. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions and associated factors among aging Chileans. METHODS: A random sample by age, gender, and socioeconomic status was obtained, comprising 889 individuals older than 65 years. Individuals were interviewed and examined in Santiago, the capital of Chile, according to the World Health Organization guidelines...